Reverse Osmosis Systems

Reverse osmosis systems help and advice

Remove harmful minerals and toxins from tap water

Reverse osmosis systems (often called RO units) use a process called osmosis to clean tap water of all chemicals and impurities to make it suitable for use in fish tanks. This process completely protects your tank from many of the most common fish tank problems. Find the right Reverse osmosis system for you from our extensive range, featuring top brands like D&D and TMC.

What are reverse osmosis systems?

Reverse osmosis systems are plumbed into your mains water supply and filter the water to remove toxins and minerals, leaving pure water. They work quite slowly and produce a trickle of pure water (also called RO water) which is collected and then added to your fish tank over time. They can be used on both marine and freshwater aquariums, but in both cases, the RO water needs to be mixed with remineralising agents to replace some of the 'good' minerals in the water before it is added to the tank.

Why should I buy reverse osmosis systems?

Reverse osmosis systems stop many common diseases in fish and greatly reduce algae growth while remineralising agents ensure the water is protected from shifts in pH and that fish have everything they need to flourish. While the systems can be quite costly and complex to set up, they protect your tank and marine life in a way few other products can and save you lots of maintenance jobs in the future.

What are the main types of reverse osmosis systems?

All of our reverse osmosis systems work the same way. Each system is plumbed into the water tap and creates clear water that is collected in a reservoir where remineralising agents can be added before the water is used to top up your tank - replacing water lost through evaporation. However, different systems can perform reverse osmosis at different rates, we have 150, 100 and 50 gallon reverse osmosis systems in our range.

What should I look for?

When buying a reverse osmosis system it's important to also think of the other accessories and refills you'll need alongside it. Reverse osmosis systems have cartridges and membranes that need to be replaced regularly to ensure high-quality filtration. You will also need to plumb your reverse osmosis system in and then hook it up to your tank, via a reservoir, which you can do with our range of RO units pipework and fittings. Finally, to ensure your reverse osmosis system is working efficiently, you can use a TDS monitor, which measures the presence of dissolved solids within your water after it has been through reverse osmosis to help alert you when there's a problem.